State Senate approves Assemi’s appointment to transportation board

Granville Homes President Darius Assemi was confirmed Tuesday by the state Senate to another term on the California Transportation Commission.

And once again, he had to wait — nine months, this time. He was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to serve another term last March.

Assemi, a 52-year-old Fresno Republican, was first appointed to the commission in 2009 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But during his initial stint on the board — which distributes state money for highways, passenger rail and transit improvements — his confirmation languished.

Darius Assemi

The Schwarzenegger administration eventually had to withdraw Assemi’s name when it became clear the Senate was unlikely to act before the appointment’s year time limit was up.

That move preserved some of the time Assemi could serve on the commission without Senate approval. He was eventually confirmed by the Senate.

Despite the delay this time around, there didn’t appear to be the same drama. The Senate confirmed the appointment with a little less than two months to spare.

It might help that this time around, a Democratic Party governor appointed Assemi and the state Senate is solidly in Democrat hands.

In addition to Assemi, the appointment of Coto de Caza resident Lucy Dunn was also confirmed by the Senate. Dunn was also initially appointed by Schwarzenegger and then appointed last March by Brown.

Assemi’s initial term expired last Feb. 1. His new term expires on Feb. 1, 2016.